Welcome to the Word for the Week. Check back regularly or subscribe today.

LEARNING TO TRUST GOD

Posted on by

Failure to trust God is a sin. This seems a strong statement, but it is true. The Scriptures never give any excuse for lack of faith. Jesus was really tough on his disciples when they showed fear rather than faith. ‘Why are you so afraid?’ he asked them. ‘Do you still have no faith?’ (Mark 4:40). And he demanded of Peter, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ (Matthew 14:31).

Even when it seems that there is no hope, we must still trust God, for who knows what he can do? There is one passage of Scripture which is particularly relevant at this point.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

This passage tells us exactly what to do in time of stress and anxiety.

  • Don’t be anxious about anything
  • In everything–pray
  • Present your requests to God
  • Give thanks to God

 

When we do these four things, God promises that his peace will guard our hearts and our minds. This means that our thoughts become peaceful and relaxed, and so, as a result, do our bodies. Tension is gone.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

MASTERY BEGINS IN THE MIND

Posted on by

Basically, self-mastery finds its source in the mind. When we make up our minds to exercise self-control we usually finish up doing so. It is easy to blame things like tiredness, pressure of work, lack of money, misunderstanding and the like for loss of control. But if we make up our minds to reign in life, with the help of God, it can be done.

One of the strongest passages in Scripture on this subject is in chapter nine of the first letter to the Corinthians. Here, Paul compares himself to an athlete striving to win a race or a fight. It is no use just going out to the field and hoping to win. Prior to the event there must be rigorous training and strict self-control.

‘I beat my body,’ says the apostle, ‘and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others I myself will not be disqualified for the prize’ (I Corinthians 9:27).

If athletes trained in the way some Christians do, they would be booed from the field! The prize for believers is far more worthy than any earthly reward, yet so often we fail to strive for it!

‘When I rule my soul, I am in control.’

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

HOPE AND VISION

HOPE AND VISION

Posted on by

Once, while in Singapore, I was invited to visit Changi prison. I was most interested to do this, as an uncle of mine had been incarcerated there during World War 2. I was to speak briefly to the prisoners.

This proved to be a memorable experience. I can still picture the serious faces of those men as they tried to integrate the message of the gospel with the lives they lived. Many had become believers and were living lives of faith inside the jail.

Afterwards, I noticed on sale some handicrafts made by the inmates. I was drawn to a simple wooden plaque with some Chinese lettering on it that said, ‘Everything rises to meet your expectations.’

Today it is in a prominent place in my office. What it says is not automatically true. I would want to add the words, ‘In Christ. . .’ or, ‘by faith’. But even so it has a strong element of truth in it. Whether we set negative or positive expectations, what we anticipate is likely to happen.

If our lives are filled with doubts and fears, what we fear is likely to come upon us (Job 3:25).

Or. To quote an entirely different proverb, ‘Fortune favours the brave’. If our lives are filled with hope and vision, the things we hope for may well come to pass.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.

HONEST TO GOD

HONEST TO GOD

Posted on by

An important aspect of self-mastery is that of honesty and integrity. First, it is important to be honest with God. Not that we can deceive God anyway. But the Bible does warn us that God is not to be mocked (Galatians 6:7) and that nothing in all creation is hidden from his sight (Hebrews 4:13). So it is just as well not to try!

Second, it is important to be honest with oneself. Again, Paul warns us to think of ourselves ‘with sober judgement’ (Romans 12:3). This means thinking neither too much nor too little of ourselves. At times, we are inclined to do both.

Shakespeare has old Polonius say some tedious things in Hamlet. But there is one sentiment he expresses which does make sense–

This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

(Hamlet I:iii:78-80)

A disciplined honesty towards ourselves is essential if we are to live truly in the image of God. This is particularly important in regard to the standards we set for ourselves.

If we know that a line of action is wrong, then no apparent ‘leading’ can justify it.

To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.